Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones has been appointed to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

The Conservative MP said she is keen to use the role to maintain strong links between Wales and Northern Ireland.

She said: “I am delighted to have been elected to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; it is a real honour having run against two esteemed colleagues for the role."

Miss Jones, who has been an MP since December 2019, was officially appointed on Monday, January 11. Her first committee meeting, which is on Wednesday, will hear expert evidence on cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is a cross party group of 13 Members of Parliament who examine the policy, expenditure and administration of the Northern Ireland Office and its associated public bodies.

The Committee is carrying out six inquiries on a range of topics from Addressing the Legacy of Northern Ireland’s part: The UK Government’s New Proposals, to Unfettered Access: Northern Ireland and custom arrangements after Brexit.

Miss Jones said: “Northern Ireland is at the forefront of current affairs at the moment, with the European Union Trade Agreement having just been signed.

"From having spoken to a number of former soldiers who live in Brecon, I am also keen to scrutinise the government’s plans to bring forward legislation designed to protect military personnel who served in Northern Ireland from unfounded prosecutions.

“I am also keen to use my role on the committee to maintain strong links between Wales and Northern Ireland; we have a huge amount in common from our agriculture to our rugby and so I’m looking forward to getting started.”

This year marks 100 years since the creation of Northern Ireland after the partition of Ireland in 1921.